The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-09-29
ST. LOUIS.
Spreading the Tents of the Grand
Army of the Re-
public.
Large Numbers of Veterans AL
ready Congregated in the City,
and Incidents Thereof.

ST. LOUIS, Mo-, September ga ma
tional salute from Camp Washington her
aided the dawning of the day and aroused
the army of visitors and committees
whose duties called them to the early
trains. The clouds that had gathered
early Sunday evening drifted over the city,
but a fine mist dampened the atmosphere
this morning and gradually collected in a
steady, ,disagreeable rain. The first trains
brought more warriors, more visitors and
many children. The west poured in its
great crowds as steadily as the rain leaked
through the clouds, and Kansas, with their
grssshopper badges, came in force, join
ing Nebraska's corn badged fellows.
At the camp at Washington post the
gray haired warriors and sturdy farmers
filed from the depots with grip in hand
and blankets thrown over their shoulders,
asking only for tent, while women and
children followed behind. The gloom of
the day was dispelled by the shrek of the
fife and the beat of the drum, while lovely
airs from many bands indicated the spirit
that was wrapped up in the blouse,
spangled with brass buttons and copper
badges. The Pacific slope veterans had
scarcely settled down before the nearer
west poured in with Arkansas, New Mexico
and Texas. The Iowa aad Missouri con-
tingent reported many men and an
nounced the coming of thousands more.
Several hundred have reported from
Pennsylvania.
"OLD KAINTUCK."
Early in the morning Kentucky escorted
their department commander to his head
quarters and then moved out to the tented
field. Ohio, Indiana and Illinois quickly
passed through the streets, seeking shell
ter and greeting friends and comrades
In the tents groups of men assembled
with heads together, reviewing the past and
drifting into "reminiscences of the long ago
and the terrible struggle. Camp life
surely brings the old times back, and such
days as this are in contrast to the mud
and cruel weather of the Shenandoah val
ley.
At noon the railroads had brought
in 10000 citizens and soldiers
At the depots and the camps all seemed
confusion, but order quickly assumed
command and the search for old regiments
and old friends began at once. Many {
brother or friend awaits at the train o.
the camp the coming of one whom he hat
not seen since the grand review at Wash
ington.
To facilitate the search the Kansas camI
have arranged their tents in groups ant
marked them for the different states, sc
that the member of a Kansas G. A. r
post might rest in his regimental tent.
oITY OF TENTS.
| The feature of this encam mpment is thu
sheltering of the large number of old vet
Grams in tents, tried at each encampmen
before in small numbers. The plan gav'
such satisfaction and pleasure that it wa
decided to thus house the vast numbers
and the executive committee arranged tt
care for a greater number of people in tn,
field than has ever before been attempted
in any land, except in times of war. Per
haps no canvass city of such proportion
has ever been built in so short time
Within two months $500 tents, witt
ample room for $4,000 persons, have beel
put together and are now pitched in tn
beautiful parks of the city, all within
radius of two miles of headquarters an
connected by telegraph and convenient t
dining halls. bale of straw make
| mdUbE6SS6S lOr odCIl bOuus io uOu VII
soldier brings strapped on his knap-sac
or grips. Five hundred of these tents ar
pitched In Lyon park, 300 in Concord
park, and in Hyde park are 500, Washing
ton, 55; Carr, 700; st. Louis, 300; Jackson
$50; Forest, 200, and around tn
court house and other publ
places in the heart of the cit.
For several days the deserted walk
and white coverings were more like tn
city of the dead, but tonight an army G
iovial and tried spirits crowded the wa!
The doubt "would the boys take to tn
J tents" bas been dispelled, for on drizi
} ling and rainy day more application
for such shelter have been made tina
tents are ready for, but the neighborhoo
hotels and boarding houses are ample fo
the surplus. In many cases the vetera
; has been sent into the camp, and hous
shelters his family near by.
ST.. LOUIS.